Are You a Candidate for Teeth Whitening? By on March 06, 2015

Dental stains are a common concern. Although tooth discoloration will not affect your overall oral health, it will certainly impact your appearance. Luckily, our teeth whitening treatment is quick and easy, and it can have dramatic effects on your smile. Teeth whitening is non-invasive and involves minimal discomfort. Therefore, it is suitable for a large number of patients. However, there are certain factors that may affect your ability to undergo treatment. Our Ridgewood dentists will discuss your treatment goals and oral health to determine if you are a good teeth whitening candidate.

Teeth Whitening: Understanding the Basics

At Ridgewood Dental Associates, we proudly offer Zoom!® teeth whitening, one of the most popular and effective ways to treat dental stains. To perform Zoom!®, your dentist will cover your teeth in a peroxide-based whitening gel. After he or she activates the gel with a specially designed light, the peroxide will break apart biochemical bonds between stained molecules. This process could leave your smile six to eight shades lighter. The entire whitening process usually takes about an hour or less, and you should experience little to no post-treatment sensitivity.

What Type of Stains Do You Have?

Zoom!® is an outstanding choice if you want to reduce extrinsic discoloration. These stains, located on the surface of your teeth, most frequently appear because of food or drink. They may also be the result of smoking or certain environmental factors. Intrinsic stains are found on the inner layers of teeth. They may result from the use of certain medications or medical conditions. Internal staining can also appear because of dental infection or old metal restorations. Intrinsic stains are less common than extrinsic stains. Unfortunately, Zoom!® will not affect this type of discoloration.

Other Considerations for Candidacy

If you struggle with extrinsic stains, there are several other considerations that may affect your candidacy for treatment. First, if you have a significant number of dental crowns or a bridge, it may be inadvisable to receive whitening treatment. The peroxide gel will not affect these restorations. Therefore, after treatment, the color of your teeth may be uneven. Nevertheless, having dental restorations does not automatically disqualify you from teeth whitening, so you should discuss your options with your dentist.

Like many patients, you may worry that if you suffer from dental sensitivity, you will not be able to tolerate teeth whitening. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, you can still undergo treatment. Zoom!® whitening gel is specially formulated to minimize sensitivity, and your dentist will make sure that the material does not come in contact with your gums.

What if Whitening Is Not Suitable?

Fortunately, if you suffer from extreme dental sensitivity or if you have intrinsic stains, we can still provide effective treatment to transform your smile. Porcelain veneers adhere to the front of your teeth to cover up stains completely. At the same time, they can conceal additional flaws, including cracks, chips, and worn edges. They can also reshape teeth and close gaps in your smile. Before beginning any treatment, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and discuss your goals. In that way, he or she can protect your oral health and provide you with a stunning smile.